Joists - The RetroHeat® floor heating system is designed for use with typical wood and/or metal floor joists. The joists must have a facing width no greater than 2 inches, with a spacing between the joist strips of 12-, 16-, or 24-inches on center.
Floor Surface - The floor surface may be of any material having a total thermal insulation value of less than R-11 / RSI-2. This includes any floor finish such as tile, hardwood, or carpet, as well as secondary materials added to the floor at a later time. Contact the material manufacturer for specific information concerning the thermal insulation factor of the material being specified.
Surface Finish - Any type of surface can be applied to the finished floor. The total thermal insulation value of the subfloor and floor finish must not exceed R-11.
Insulation - The only types of insulation permitted with
the RetroHeat system are:
● Unfaced fiberglass batt insulation
● Rigid insulation panels
When designing the heating system, care must be taken to ensure that proper clearance is maintained from electrical fixtures, cabinetry, partition walls and other permanent features.
Permanent Features – RetroHeat heating panels must be installed so that they will not be covered, even in part, by partition walls or other structures that cross the floor. Heating panels that are covered by any structures may overheat.
Wiring – Electrical wiring in the floor must be at least 2 inches away from the heating panels with a barrier of insulation filling that space. This space may be horizontal along the joist space.
Surface Mounted Fixtures – Do not install the heating panels closer than 8 inches from the edges of any electrical boxes for surface-mounted fixtures in the floor since surface-mounted fixtures may have additional trim which extend far beyond the edges of the electrical boxes.
Recessed Fixtures – At least 2 inches of clearance must be maintained between the trim of recessed fixtures or outlets and the heating panels.
Heat Sources – At least 8 inches of clearance must be maintained between heat sources and the heating panels.
Pipes – At least 2 inches of clearance must be maintained between any pipes (metal or plastic) and the heating panels.
End of Joist Cavities – Leave at least 6 inches of clearance at each end of each joist cavity to accommodate wiring and assembly.
Several other innovative radiant floor heating solutions are available. Call Warmzone® at 888.488.9276 to learn more, or visit Warmzone's floor heating system overviews web page. Warmzone can custom design the ideal solution to meet your heating needs as well as your budget.
Whatever your home heating needs are, a custom radiant floor heating solution can be designed for your unique project. If you have access to your floors from below (either thru a basement or crawl space), then you can add the comfort of radiant heat to your existing floors. For more information about radiant floor heating systems, contact a radiant heat pro at today at 888.488.9276.
888-488-9276